Corset-fastener



(No Model.)

T. W. HARDESTY CORSET FASTE I No. 540,661. Patented June 11, 1895.

lllml' fimml W/ fimo W ad; W

a citizen of the United States, residing at NITEDf STATES PATENT OFFICE.

TO GEORGE WATT, OF SAME PLACE,

OHIO.

AND ROBERT W'ATT, OF AKRON,

CORSET-FASTE-N ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 540,661, dated June 11, 1895. Application filed October 11,1894. $e1ia1N0.5Z5,59(i. (N5 mean.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS W. HARDESTY,

Youngstown, in the county of Mahoning and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Corset Fasteners; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of my invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this speci fication.

The means of 'corset-fastenings as now known and used are defective in that they are not readily clasped, do not lie smoothly against the person, and cannot be as quickly unclasped as desirable, especially in case of accident or sudden illness when the corset should be at once removed. Another defect is that the lower fastenings' are apt to become unclasped by movement of the lower limbs while sitting.

The object of my invention is to remedy these defects which I do by the means hereinafter described and illustrated in the drawings, in which Q Figure 1 is a view of a corset, showing the flap carrying the hooks in the position it occupies immediately after the hooks are disengaged from the eyes. Fig. 2 is an enlarged viewof part of that portion of the corset contiguous to the front opening, showing the position of the parts when the corset is about to be fastened upon the person of the wearer. Figs. 3 and 4 are sectional views respectively showing the hooks disengaged from and engaged with the eyes.

The corset O is the ordinary corset, my invention relating only to the manner of fastening, combining means for rendering the same smooth to the wearer. The left (as worn) front corset edge is provided with the two parallel vertical stripsof pliable fiat metal P and S extending the entire length of the corset, each being sewed into hems at the corset edges, lapping each other. The outer plate P, at suitable intervals, is'provided with the hooks H, the hook being upon the under side pointing away from the edge, the same having a tapering head, a rearwardly tapering under cut engaging face, and a shank that passes through the plate P clinched upon the outer side, a

rectangular piece of metal that clasps both sides of the plate P outside the hem, forming a base plate for the hook, to strengthen the corset in this portion. To the hook plate P,

about midway, vertically, is attached the loop L for a purpose that will presently appear. The opposite or right edge (as worn) of the corset isprovided with the vertical strip of pliable flat metal within a hem to which is attached at intervals, corresponding to the intervals between the hooks H, the leftward projecting eyes that, when the corset is fastened,

hooks and eyes are at once disengaged so that I the corset is loosened instantaneously, a matter always of great convenience and especially of importance in cases of sudden illness.

WVhat I claim is l 1. A corset having eyes at one side of its opening and provided at the other side of the opening with a stifiened flap connected on one side with the corset to swing outwardly therefrom in a horizontal plane, said flap having a series of hooks which engage said eyes and are simultaneously disengaged therefrom when the fiap is swung outwardly, substantially as described.

2. A corset having eyes at one side of its opening, and provided at the other side of said opening with stiffened parallel flaps between which said eyes enter, one of saidfiaps being hinged on one side to the corset to swing outwardly in a horizontal plane and having a series of hooks which engage the said eyes and are simultaneously disengaged therefrom by the outward swing of the flap, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS W. HARDESTY. Vitnesses:

RoLLIE E. BALDWIN, E. HIPPARD. 

